Timeline
20:08
Arrive at Plimmerton Beach forty-five minutes before sunset. The area near the beach is one of the Porirua's oldest settlements, dating from the nineteenth century when Plimmer and others pushed the Wellington and Manawatu Railway through. Use this time to walk along the shore and watch the sky change colour over the water. You might spot windsurfers or boardsailors beating the breezes as the light fades.
21:08
Head back toward the railway station. One minute from the station is your best bet for catching the train or finding a nearby spot to wait out the last of the twilight. The station area offers a safe, flat place to stand and watch the final moments of daylight.
21:38
By now it is fully dark. Check the route back to Wellington city centre or a nearby suburb for dinner. Plimmerton is quiet after dark, so plan your next meal in a town with active evening hospitality.
Local tip
The sunset is toward the WSW. Bring a light layer as the breeze picks up near the water after the sun goes down.
Check before you go
- Check the train schedule from Plimmerton station if you are returning to Wellington for dinner.
- Sunset times vary by season. This plan is based on the 15 January sunset at 20:53.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Wellington (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).